During the third grade, the balance begins to shift from developing skills to using skills to acquire knowledge. Children make the leap from learning to read to reading to learn, increasingly using reading to gain information necessary to interact with the curriculum.

The third-grade student is able to work collaboratively on academic challenges. They have the skills with which to work independently from the teacher, and they are developing the ability to understand another student’s explanations and perspective.

During the third grade, students are ready to study a past culture in depth. They are able to use their reading skills to research different aspects of the culture. They have the cognitive maturity to understand a culture that is separate from them in both time and place.

Subject	Topic	Activities
Reading and Language Arts	Reading Units (stressing comprehension)	Reading with Stamina and Meaning Thinking, Talking, and Writing about Books Storytelling Non-fiction Close Reading of Short Texts Author studies Books clubs by interest (e.g. mystery, fantasy, etc.)
	Decoding Strategies	Phonics and word analysis (word patterns, syllabication, structural cues) Semantic and Syntactic Strategies Visual cues Sight words
	Reading Structure	Individual reading with a teacher and by self Partnership Reading Reading in groups
	Writing Workshop	Methodology of the Writing Institute at Teachers College Introduction to the Writer’s Notebook Personal Narrative/Memoir Realistic fiction “All About" Books Poetry "Edge of the Seat" stories
	Spelling	Word study Word hunts Word sorts Frequent and less frequent patterns Structural analysis Syllabication Sight words
	Handwriting	Consolidation of cursive
	Keyboarding	Beginning instruction in Keyboarding
Math	Number Systems and Number Sense	Multi-digit addition and subtraction with regrouping 4-digit numbers (1000-9999) Money Quick and fluid recall of addition and subtraction facts through 20
	Problem Solving and Probability	Throughout the year
	Multiplication	Seeing the patterns Looking at arrays Learning the facts Introduction to multi-digit multiplication Introduction to division
	Data and Graphing	Making graphs Interpreting graphs
	Measurement	Beginning use of a ruler Area and perimeter Surface area Metric measurement
Assessment	Informal Reading Inventory	Reading assessment (decoding and comprehension)
	Stanford Achievement Test	Practice in test-taking strategies for similar tests given in fourth and fifth grades Verbal ability, auditory comprehension, reading comprehension, writing mechanics, writing process, quantitative ability, mathematics
Community Building	Listening skills Getting along with others Respect for differences	Class meetings and conflict resolution activities throughout the day and embedded in all the curriculum Outdoor education Current events
Social Studies and Science	Study of the Hudson River	Study of the Hudson River and the Hudson River watershed from long ago until today How have different people seen/used the river How has the Hudson River changed over time? How did the Lenape use the river? What role have people played in the development and health of the river over time? Study of properties of water as seen in the river Study of estuaries and the ecology of the river Trips to the river, across the river, up the river Skills of observing, recording, and summarizing Basic research using pictures, books (title page, table of contents, index, chapter headings, glossary), museums
Alternative Education	Black Rock Forest, NY (overnight)	Cooperation Water and Native American survival skills Hudson River Reflecting and writing about experiences
World Language	Spanish (full-year study of one or the other)	Large numbers The Solar System Commands Body parts/clothes Cooking Comparative—big, medium, small Study of Native Americans Muzzy video series
	French (full-year study of one or the other)	Large numbers The Solar System Commands Body parts/clothes Cooking Comparative—big, medium, small LE Metro de Paris Children’s literature Muzzy video series
Homework	Organization Strategies	Homework 3 nights a week and then 4 nights
	Reading	30 minutes a night
	Writing and math	Two times each week for each
	Music	Practice the recorder
	Spelling	Spelling exercises and words
Music	Orff process	Introduction to meter (double/triple) & conducting Exploration of more complex step patterns Representation of melody through movement, sustaining pitches Pentatonic, hexatonic, heptatonic songs and melodies, vocal games, sustaining pitches Introduction to recorder technique, melody contour, phrasing, tone production Songs accompanied by vocal or instrumental ostinati Instrumental improvisations Form: ABACA, solo/chorus
Art	Emphasis on learning techniques and being independent	Drawing with a variety of materials (beginning to focus on different techniques) Painting with tempera and watercolors Sculpture construction with a variety of materials Introduction of intricate techniques for image making with paper Collage with a variety of materials (introduce working with tissue paper) Intermediate monoprinting techniques with tempera paint Rubbings with crayons
Physical Education	Games leading to sports Gymnastics Movement appreciation	Students engage in activities designed to provide for the development of perceptual skills such as Object Handling, Balance Activities, Apparatus Work Students receive guidance in the development of social skills, emotional expressions and control through participation in such activities as Large Group Games, Small Group Games, Dance, and Recreational Activities